LAWYERS have warned that unscrupulous solicitors' clerks have gained a substantial hold on the legal profession through as many as one-third of the territory's solicitors' firms and arrangements with barristers.
They claim the clerks prey on fresh law graduates, and that increasing competition and high overheads have spread unethical practices into senior barristers' chambers.
A Legislative Councillor has also called for urgent action to restrain lawyers who charge the Government exorbitant fees, but slash their fees and standards to solicit conveyancing work.
Individual lawyers have confirmed to the South China Morning Post that the clerks have a widespread foothold in the profession.
A number of lawyers have warned that as many as 30 per cent of Hongkong's 441 solicitors' firms could be operating with secret approval given to clerks ''to tout business and share profits on a commission basis''.
One legal source said: ''To many of the smaller firms these clerks are lifelines because they have good business connections outside. Many small solicitors' firms survive on conveyancing work, so some of these clerks get a commission cut of up to 50 per cent.'' Solicitors' firms sometimes paid a set commission for each piece of work, and the sum was shared between the agent and the clerk.
